Akufo-Addo to cut sod for construction of Sea Defence Wall at Axim today

President Akufo-Addo is expected to cut sod to begin construction of Axim Sea Defence Wall in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region to save the town from destruction by sea waves.

This comes as a result of a campaign promise made by the then flagbearer of the NPP in 2016, and now President of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo.

It would recalled that in 2017 during an official visit to the Municipality, the Minister for Work and Housing, Mr. Samuel Ata Akyea promised to ensure the building of proper sea defence wall for the people in the fishing communities at Axim.

As part of this year's Kundum festival celebrations, the Member of Parliament for the area who is also the Minister for Tourism, Hon. Catherine Afeku paid a courtesy call on the chiefs of the area during the week to outline some projects the NPP government is intended to execute for the Assembly.

Addressing the gathering, Hon Afeku said, festival celebrations in the country form part of her Ministry's mandate to promote cultural heritage and traditional norms, hence the Ministry's participation.

She seized the opportunity to promise to improve tourist sites in the Western Region to boost tourism potentials and said plans are far advanced to give a facelift to the Fort St. Antonio in Axim which is geared towards attracting tourist.

She revealed to the gathering that President Akufo-Addo will grace the climax of the festival today, Sunday.

She said the President will use the occasion to cut sod for the construction of the Axim Sea Defence Wall.

She added that the President will also cut sod for the construction of Axim township roads and also visit the ongoing construction of Axim Sports Stadium.

"President Akufo-Addo will also use the opportunity to perform a cutting sod ceremony at Axim for the construction of a Cocoa Depot for the Municipality which is going to be sited at Gwira Aiyinasi", she revealed.

On his part, the Omanhene of Lower Axim Traditional Council and the former Vice President of National House of Chiefs, Awulae Attibrukusu Ill, thanked the Tourism Minister and her Ministry for their involvement in this year's Axim Kundum.

Awulae again used the privileged to thank H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo for accepting to grace the occasion at the grand durbar on Sunday 9th September, 2018.

Nana Anim l, immediate past President of Ghana Tourism Federation and a Coordinator in charge of Beach Sanitation Project under the Ministry of Tourism also praised the people of Axim for their effort to keep their beaches clean.

He promised the Ministry will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure our beaches are kept clean to attract more tourists to the country by providing proper place of convince for them.

Speaking to the media after the gathering, the MCE for the area, Hon. Frank Okpenyen indicated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is determined to address challenges facing the Nzema East Municipality and ensure smooth development of the area.

He, therefore, urged the people of Nzema East to support the government to implement programmes that would solve the area’s development challenges.

He also revealed that the construction of the Sea Defence Wall has come at the right time and said it is going to create employment for the youth directly and indirectly.

He has also called for a more collaborative effort of all traditional authorities and individuals to promote peace and harmony in various communities to ensure rapid and expansive development is achieved.

Some youth in the area also expressed their gratitude to Hon.Catherine Afeku and the planning committee for their massive contributions especially efforts made to bring artists such as Stoneboy, D-Black, Kofi Kinnata, Kwame Eugene etc to perform.

The one week celebration is expected to end on Sunday 9th September, 2018 with grand durbar and beach jams later in the evening.

Hon. Catherine Afeku was accompanied by some staff of Tourism Ministry, MCE for the area, some youth leaders, the media among others.